I know exactly what you mean. I'm lucky to make it into the shower most days. But we must forge ahead and not let the depression overtake us. You are very much worth the effort! hugs

Yes. Showering. Brushing teeth, cooking, vacuuming, walking the dog...they all become monumental tasks with depression. But it is worth the battle. Better time are always ahead. Never think it is not worth the fight.

We can all comiserate [sp] together. Some days I dont brush my teeth. How can we or I, keep going on this way?
We do it for our families, and the thought of getting better, and having good days to look forward too. I am sorry I am not much help. Feeling kinda strange tonight, like numb. Sometimes I wonder it it is all worth it, the pain. I will stop there.

Yes, I think any one of us is strong enough to deal with the stressors in the life of some one with depression. But to deal with it day after day after day after day.....that is another story. I guess you just have to believe that tomorrow can bring a better day. And sometimes it actually does. Best wishes to all of us with having a better day tomorrow!
9

I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way. Some days are so hard. I think tomorrow I may just stay in bed myself.

you're right. the smallest task can seem gigantic when in a serious depression.

Agree with what you have written. I hope you feel better soon.

Wow thats exactly how i feel everyday. somehow i keep going.

It's so easy for depression to get ahold of your thoughts, and take a negative toll on your thinking. While dealing with depression now myself, I still feel there is more to life waiting for me once I get through this. I would say to just create a very simple task list each day with 2-3 things and complete them. If you can't complete them, don't beat yourself up. Also, learn to focus on this exact moment in life. Most likely when you stop thinking about your past, or your future (which we all do 99% of the time) you will realize that everything in life is good. Obviously, this is MUCH easier to say than do but if you practice it, you can only get better at it. Try listening to Pema Chodron on you tube or something. Just her voice calms me down.

Amen....Life is effort without depression. The only difference is that it's harder for us. Sometimes, I am able to pretend I don't feel depression and try to think like a nondepressive. You know? Just go through the motions to walk in the shoes of a nondepressive. It gets things done.

But, some days even that's not happening. Life is work for even those in perfect health.

. I would say to just create a very simple task list each day with 2-3 things and complete them. If you can't complete them, don't beat yourself up. Also, learn to focus on this exact moment in life
Chevyguy

I like this response. That is what I do. I hate repitive stuff. Cleaning the house is such a chore for me sometimes and the showering too. Some days are better than others. Also, I have family to crawl up my ass if I get too bad. Sometimes it is better to have to be made to do something to get out of the funk. I do anyway.

It's raining where I am and so I cannot garden today. My to-do list (which I will go over at end of day to note my progress, or lack thereof):

fold and put away laundry

bake cookies for protesters (Occupy DC)

vacuum house

scrub kitchen floor

clean out refrigerator

make calls about hospital bills

call two friends to check in with them

That should keep me occupied for awhile.

It's the getting started part that is tricky.

"Also, learn to focus on this exact moment in life. Most likely when you stop thinking about your past, or your future (which we all do 99% of the time) you will realize that everything in life is good."

Interesting & basic concept, Chevy - I'm either living in the past or the future. When I think about the past, the things that I thought were bad at the time I was going thru them weren't that relatively bad; when I think about the future, my anxieties rise to uncomfortable levels...I have problems focusing on the here and now on things that I can (& should) take control of.

I wasn't always this way, the way you describe. It requires an enormous amount of mental energy to even stand up sometimes. This stress is only compounded 1000 times if you have family or dependents. I wish i could be like the "normal" people, but that is not going to happen. I am who i am. To try to live that perfect way of life is self-defeating, so i try to find a balance of all worlds. Knowing i will fail, then sometimes succeed, and keep a running "average". i call this my survival quotient. It changes all the time. I just know that if this average is more in the positive than the neg. then i can cope. But i have to also try to see or forecast to some degree which way this is heading, and make corrections along the way. Something as simple as brushing my teeth gives me a positive bump, its all cumulative. But it is oh so hard. Good luck to you in finding those things that can give you a little bump up in life.!!!